Machine for making cell-cases or egg-trays.



No. 722,329. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. W. B. SHEPERD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL CASES OR EGG TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1902.

no MODEL. 6 sums-sun": 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR No. 722,329. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

u W. B. SHEPERD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL GASES OR EGG TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Tu: norms PETiRS co, FHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON,0. c.

No. 722,329. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

- W. B. SHEPBRD. MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL GASES OR EGG TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 'W ITNESSES= ATTORNEYS No. 722,329. PATENTEDMAR. 10, 1903. W. B. SHEPERD. MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL GASES 0R EGGTRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I, 1902. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- WIITNESSES=INVENTOR m 4 ,lafflw v wzzzy wm HTTORNEYLS w: MORE 5 P/EYERS co. P N, n.c.

PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

W. B. SHEPERD. MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL CASES OR EGG TRAYS.

No. 722,329. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. W. B. SHEPERD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CELL GASES OR EGG TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1902.

no MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WITNESSES INVENTOR THE Norms PETERS co, PKOTD-LITNQ. wAwmoTau, ac

Ilnutmhp TATES ATENT FFIQE.

\VILLIAM B. Sl-IEPERD, OF URBANA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-IIALF TO IT.CRAIG, OF URBANA, OHIO.

MACHlNE FOR MAKING CELL-CASES OR EGG-TRAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,329, dated March10, 1903.

Application filed August '7, 1902. Serial No. 118,834. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. SHEPERD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Urbana, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for MakingCell-Cases or Egg-Trays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for the [O manufacture of cell-casesand egg-trays; and the object of my invention is to provide a simple andefficient machine for the manufacture of cell-cases and egg-trays bymeans of which the strawboard or other material I5 from which the casesare to be made can be fed continuously from a roll properly cut andpunched to form the partitions and the parts all joined together to formthe cell-cases and separated into cases or trays of uniform size anddischarged from the machine without hand manipulation.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel mechanism by meansof which the strips which form the longitudinal partitions shall bepunched in continuous strips to receive the transverse partitions, thecross-partitions being punched and cut successively of the proper lengthto engage the longitudinal strips.

0 A further object of the invention is to pro 'vide a novel arrangementfor feeding the cross-partitions, by means of which the web of materialfrom which they are formed is securely held in a fixed position at alltimes 5 while being punched and severed and as soon as severedimmediately forced forward into proper engagement with the longitudinalpartitions.

A further object of my invention is to im- 0 prove upon the variousmechanical constructions, the details of which will be more fullypointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side 5 elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation. Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view along thelineccx of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a detail of the beater. Fig. 4 is asectional view of the feeding and punching mechanism for thecross-strips, the beater e being omit-ted.

shears for cutting mechanism of the longitudinal strips. Fig. 6 is adetail of the mechanism for operating the shears, broken away in part.Fig. 7 is a detail of the guide and shears for the longitudinal strips.Fig. 8 is a detail of the pawl-and-pinion mechanism for varying themovement of the feeding devices. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of thefeeding and cutting rolls for the web of the longi 6o tudinal strips.Fig. 10 is a detail view of the mechanism for removing waste particles.Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are views of longitudinal and transverse strips,showing the perforations made by the punches.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

The general operation of my machine is by advancing the webs from whichthe longitudinal and cross strips are formed into the ma- 7o chine,supporting-plates for said webs being placed one above the other. Theweb of the longitudinal strips is first passed through mechanism forcutting the web into longitudinal strips, and the strips are afterwardpunched and fed forward until raised from a flat position to a verticalposition. After the longitudinal strips have been fed forward into avertical position they pass under the mechanism for feeding, punching,and cutting the cross-strips from the other webs of material, and thecross-strips are entirely severed from the web before they are fed intoposition for being assembled with the longitudinal strips for formingthe case. The longitudinal strips are cut in proper lengths at a pointapproximately in line with the cutting and guiding mechanism for thecross strips, insuring thereby a uniform and accurate size for thecases, and the construction 9c of the parts is such that thecross-strips are firmly forced into position.

A A represent the frame of the machine, on which is supported thedriving-shaft a, which in the drawings is shown as being op 5 erated bya belt. The main operating-shaft b is connected to the driving-shaft bygears, as shown in Fig. 1. A sprocket-chain 0 connects the driving-shaftwith rotary cutters d d. The web of strawboard for the longi- TOOtudinal strips is fed into the machine on the Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe 1 operating platform or base, (marked (7%.) In

order .to facilitate the feeding of the web into the machine, I haveshown the rotary cutters adjustably mounted, so that the operator canraise and lower the upper roller for the purpose of inserting the webs.This is done by means of the lever d, which is pivoted to the frame ofthe machine at d. A sliding bar d is formed with notches d, as shown inFig. 6, so that when the lever is pushed in one direction the upper rollwill be raised and in the opposite direction the same will be lowered.Springs 61 are for holding the upper rotary cutter normally out ofadjustment with the lower cutter.

The Web of strawboard after it is pulled between the cutting-rollsextends underneath the punching mechanism, and the end of the same isplaced between the two feed-rolls d and d After the feed-rolls havebegun to advance the strip the lever 01 is moved until the upper rotarycutter is in proper adjustment with the lower cutter, and thereby theWeb is cut into longitudinal strips.

The punching mechanism consists of male and female dies 01 c1 and theupper die of the punching mechanism has a connectingrod 01 joinedthereto, connecting it with the main operating-shaft b. The wasteparticles are conveyed away from the punching mechanism by an inclinedchannel 01 The lower feed-roll d is operated by a connecting-rod (1,extending from the main operating-shaft b to the disk-crank c1 journaledloosely on the shaft with said feed-roll. Another connecting-rod dextends from the disk-crank 01 to a disk-crank cl", journaled on a shaftin the lower part of the machine, thereby operating a grooved pulleyhereinafter referred to. The longitudinal webs having been cut intolongitudinal strips by the rotary cutters and the strips having beenpunched by the punching meclianism,theyareadvanced along thesupporting-bed until turned from a fiat or horizontal position to avertical position by means of a roller d which is revolved by thesprocket-chain 0. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

The mechanism I have shown is adapted to form egg cases or trays withseven longitudinal strips and seven cross-strips assembled therein,making thirty-six cells. An enlargement of the mechanism would enableone to make cases of a greater number of cells. I have preferably shownmechanism for making cases of thirty-six cells.

In Fig. 11 I have shown the longitudinal strips formed with six equalspaces between the perforations and having the seventh space one-halfthe size of the equal spaces. This is accomplished by a pinion securedon the lower feed-roll shaft with six teeth of equal size and theseventh tooth formed onehalf of the regular size. This pinion (Z isconnected to the disk-crank by a pawl (1 as shown in Fig. 7, said pawl dbeing springpressed against the pinion insuch manner that the lowerfeed-roll will advance the longitudinal strip six equal spaces, but theseventh stroke of the diskcrank will advance the strip only one-half thedistance before advanced. This variation is for the purpose of cuttingthe longitudinal strips, as hereinafter explained, at the seventh space.

The web, of strawboard or other material, for forming the cross-strip isfed into the machine from the bed 6, and the feed-rollers 6 6 which aredriven intermittently by a connecting-rod h and ratchet-gear h, similarto that described at (1 and (1 ad vanoe the web or cross-strip down in avertical direction between the punching-dies e and e. The movablepunching-die e is connected to the main operating-shaft by aconnecting-rod a, jointed thereto, and the waste particles from thepunching mechanism for the cross-strips is conveyed away through achannel 6 by a belt a passing over a pulley driven by bevelgears 6 (2which in turn are driven by the sprocket-chain c, as shown in Fig. 1.

The ledger knives or cutters e on the punches or dies are so arrangedthat the web of strawboard after being punched is cut into cross-strips,the relative positions of the different parts being shown in Fig 4,wherein the longitudinal strip is shown in dotted lines. Aspring-pressed plate 6 (shown in Fig. 1) is for insuring'the guiding ofthe cross-strips after cut from the web accurately and in properalinement to the small feed and guiding rolls e e As shown in Fig. 4,the ledger or cutter knives are placed sufficiently above the smallfeed-rolls e 6 so that the lower edge of the strip is gripped by thefeed-rolls before the same is severed from the web. The small feedrollsrevolve continuously and rapidly, while the main feed-rolls for the webare moved intermittently. The small diameter of the feed rolls permitsthem to revolve rapidly in contact with the web, but with just suficientpull on the strip to hold the same tight while it is being cut andsevered, but not sufficient to move it through the main feed-rollsbefore it is severed. This insures the web being held in proper positionwhile being punched and severed, and the moment it is severed thefeed-rolls, acting directly thereon, force it rapidly and positivelyinto position in the openings or perforations in the longitudinalstrips. The guide or feed roll 6 is preferably formed with alongitudinal notch or groove, as shown at e in Fig. 4. This notchassists in the gripping of the rolls on the severed strip and engagesthe upper edge of the cross-strip as it passes from the rolls and causesit to be not only moved downwardly, but slightly forwardly in thedirection of the movement of the longitudinal strips as the rollrevolves, thus carrying the strip free of the rolls and in a position tobe engaged with the beater. This arrangement, it will be seen, enablesthe strip to be fed rapidly and positively into position while thefeed-rolls for both the webs remain at rest, after which they are bothintermittently moved forward to the new position at which the next stripis to be assembled.

There is arranged below and in front of the small feed-rolls areciprocating plate a, supported at each end on arms a, which slide attheir outer ends in bearings, said plate being normally spring-pressed,so as to stand immediately in front of a line passing between thefeed-rolls, as shown in Fig. 4. This plate serves as an additional guidefor preventing the upper edge of the partition fed through the rollsfrom being bent backwardly and also assists in freeing the upper edge ofthe partition from the rolls in case there is any tendency for the sameto stick therein. A projection e on the arm of the movable punching-diecontacts with the projection 6 extending upwardly from the rod 6 so thatwhen the movable die moves backwardly it forces the plate 2 against theresistance of the spring in the same direction with the die, and therebyforces the cross-strip away from the small feed-rolls and keeps it inproper alinement until forced into place by the heaters hereinafterdescribed.

A beater-plate e is mounted on a rod or shaft 6 held normally by aspring 6 in the position shown in Fig. 3. The beater is pressed down bythe projection e on the arm of the movable die, which strikes against alug 6 extending upwardly in the path of said die. The parts are soconstructed that the beater-plate will press the cross-strips securelyinto place immediately after they have been fed into position under saidplate.

Outting-shearsfare for cutting the longitudinal strips at the seventh orunequal space made by the punch-die, as heretofore eX- plained. A bladef of said shears is held stationary, and the other blades f are pivotedon a bar f and connected at the lower ends by an arm f'. This arm f isconnected to a pivoted arm f the lower end of which has a rollerf, whichextends within a groove f of a cam f The cam f is revolved by thedisk-crank and connecting-rod, as hereinbefore explained. Theconstruction of the pulley is such that when the friction-roller reachesthe offset portion in the groove at f the arm f will drive theshear-blades f so as to cut the longitudinal strips, and the parts areso constructed that this cutting is accomplished after the sevencross-strips have been placed in position and the parts partlyassembled. In this manner the cutting of the strawboard into definiteand uniform sizes for cell-cases is accomplished in a very simplemanner, and the parts are accurately measured and the sizes of the casesare uniform.

The respective blades which form the shears for the longitudinal stripsare secured to an angle-bar g, which extends across the machine and issupported at each end on the main frame, said blades being secured to avertical wing g of said angle-bar. A horizontal win" of this an le-barcarries a series of guiding-plates 9 one pair of guides for eachlongitudinal strip. These guides are turned outwardly at the ends intowhich the longitudinal strips enter and are placed sufficiently closetogether to insure the longitudinal strips being held vertically andproperly spaced, the stationary blade of each shear being located inline with the inner faces and adjacent to the end of the guiding-plate gImmediately in front of these plates is a series of vertical guides 9curved forwardly over the tops of the knives at their upper ends andhaving spaces between them sufficient to permit the longitudinal stripsto pass through. These vertical guides are all secured to a transversebar g, which is bolted or otherwise removably secured to the anglebar g.These vertical guides insure the transverse partitions being feddirectly into the slots in the longitudinal strips and at proper spaceposition in front of the cuttingshears. By having the guides secured tothe transverse bar g they may be removed at any time for repair or otherpurpose, and the cutting-knives and the guides for the longitudinalstrips being all secured on the transverse bar g a very compactarrangement of the knives and guides is secured and one which permitsthem to be readily removed at any time for sharpening or for otherpurpose.

It should be noted that the beater-plate (2 extends across the machineand above the longitudinal strips and is supported at each end by thearms 6 which are rigidly secured to the shaft 6 The lug or projection eis also secured rigidly to the shaft e and is preferably formed with anextending arm or tail 6 which extends outwardly from the shaft in theopposite direction from the beaterarms 6 and to this arm or tail issecured the spring 6 which serves to hold the beater in its normalposition above the transverse strips. As the cross head carrying thepunches is reciprocated the lug e thereon contacts with the projection 6and thus oscillates the shaft and gives the beater a quick downwardmovement against the transverse strips or partitions, forcing themquickly and positively into position, the beater being held in thisposition so long as the cross-head carrying the movable dies is in itsforward position. As the cross-head moves backwardly the heater isreleased and the lug e contacts with the projection e on the rod 6 whichcarries the movable plate a", the motion being timed so that thisoperation takes plaae just as the longitudinal strips are movingforward, thus insuring the upper projecting end of the transversepartition being moved forward with the longitudinal strips and beingreleased from the feeding-rolls (2 6 For the purpose of insuring theinterlocking of the upper and lower strips when the strips are flattenedfor the purpose of shipping I have shown the perforations in the upperstrip of a peculiar shape. It is to be understood that after the stripsare assembled by my machine it is necessary to ship or transport them tothe consumer, and it is desirable to construct the strips so that theycannot readily be disconnected during shipping or when being put intouse. It is usual in shipping or transporting these cases to have themflattened out in order to economize space. It is therefore veryimportant to prevent them from being readily disconnected.

I have shown the upper strip formed with a perforation having a flap a.The inner end of said flap touches the opposite side of the opening, soas to form a lock with the perforation in the lower strip, as shown inFig. 13. This perforation in the upper strip is formed so that none ofthe material or approximately none of the material is removed or cut outat the point 0?. By this construction when the strips are flattened theywill still be locked in their assembled position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination withfeeding and slotting devices for the longitudinal and cross strips,severing devices for the cross-strips and shears adapted to sever saidlongitudinal strips when a predetermined number of said cross-stripshave been fed, of vertical guides in front of and extending forwardlyover the tops of said shears to guide the cross-strips, said guidesbeing spaced apart to form guides for the longitudinal strips,substantially as specified.

2. The combination with feeding and slotting devices for thelongitudinal and cross strips, severing devices for the cross-strips andvertically-extending shears adapted to sever the longitudinal stripswhen a predetermined number of the crossstrips havev slotting devicesfor the longitudinal and cross strips, and severing devices for thecrossstrips, of a series of pairs of shears, one pair foreachlongitudinal strip, each pair of shears consisting of a stationaryblade and a movable blade pivoted thereto, a bar to which each of saidmovable blades is pivoted and means to move said bar whereby each ofsaid movable blades is simultaneously turned upon its pivot to sever thelongitudinal strips when a predetermined number of the crossstrips havebeen fed.

4. The combination with the feeding and slotting devices for thelongitudinal and cross strips, and severing devices for the crossstrips,of a series of pairs of shears, one pair for each longitudinal strip,horizontally-extending guides having flaring mouths adapted to receiveand pass said longitudinal strips to said shears, vertical guides infront of and extending forwardly over the tops of said shears to guidethe cross-strips, said last-named guides being spaced apart to pass andguide said longitudinal strips from said shears, each pair of saidshears consisting of a stationary blade and a movable blade pivotedthereto, a bar to which each of said movable blades is pivoted, a camhaving connections to said bar adapted to move said bar, whereby each ofsaid movable blades is simultaneously turned upon its pivot to sever thelongitudinal strips when a predetermined number of thecrossstrips havebeen fed.

5. In an egg-case machine, the combination of feeding, cutting andpunching mechanism for the web of longitudinal strips of strawboard orother suitable material, mechanism for cutting the longitudinal stripsto proper length, feeding, punching and cutting mechanism for the web ofcross-strips formed of strawboard or other suitable material, a pair ofguiding and feed rolls for the cross-strips so located that they willfeed the cross-strips after same are completely severed from the web.

6. In an egg-case machine, the combination, with mechanism for feeding,cutting and punching longitudinal strips from a web of strawboard orother suitable material, mechanism for feeding, cutting and punchingcross strips from a web of strawboard or other suitable material, meansfor cutting the crossstrips therefrom, a pairofguide-rolls for feed ingthe cross-strips, one of said rolls being notched so as to grip the saidcross-strips and insure the same being readily released from said rolls,for the purpose specified.

7. In an egg-case machine, the combination of mechanism for feeding,punching and cutting a web of strawboard into longitudinal strips, meansfor cutting the longitudinal strips to proper lengths, mechanism forfeeding, cutting and punching a Web of strawboard or other suitablematerial for crossstrips, means forcutting the cross-strips therefrom, apair of feed or guide rolls for said cross-strips adapted to feed thecross-strips after the same are cut from the web, and means on saidfeed-rolls for gripping the lower edge of said cross-strips and forpermitting the upper edge of same to be moved freely from the rolls, andmechanism for assembling said cross-strips in perfect alinement with theperforations in said longitudinal strips.

8. A machine for making egg-cases, rotary cutters, punching and feedingdevices for the web of longitudinal strips, with feeding, cutting andpunching devices for the web of cross-strips, springs for holding theupper rotary cutter normally out of contact with the lower cutter, andmeans for raising and lowering said upper rotary cutter for the purposespecified.

9. In an egg-case machine, the combination of feeding, cutting andpunching mechanism for the webs of longitudinal strips, feeding, cuttingand punching mechanism for the webs of the cross-strips, intermittentlymoving feeding-rolls for each of said webs, said feeding-rolls beingadapted to feed said webs at right angles to each other, and a pair ofcontinuously-rotating auxiliary feeding-rolls for the cross-strips, saidrolls being located below the punching and shearing mechanism andadapted to feed the cross-strips into the longitudinal strips as soon asthe same are severed and while both of the webs on which the strips areformed remain at rest, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a machine such as described and in combination with thestrip-forming mechanism arranged to feed the respective strips at rightangles to each other, of a pair of continuously rotating feeding rollsarranged across and above the longitudinal strips and in line with thecross-strips and adapted to engage said cross-strips and force them intoengagement with the longitudinal strips as soon as said cross-strips aresevered from the web, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with the strip-forming mechanism for thelongitudinal strips and intermittently-rotating feed-rolls for feedingthe web at right angles to said longitudinal strips, a reciprocatingcross-head carrying punching and cutting mechanism to form saidcross-strips, a pair of auxiliary feed-rolls arranged below said cuttingand punching device adapted to engage said web below the cross-head, andmeans for rotating said auxiliary feed-rolls so that the same will carrythe cross-strip into engagement with the longitudinal strip as soon assaid cross-strip is severed and while the main feed-rolls remain atrest, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination of the main feed-rolls for the cross-web and a pairof auxiliary rolls for the cross-strips, a reciprocating head forpunching and shearing said web to form said strips, said head beinglocated between said main and auxiliary rolls, said main rolls beingadapted to be operated intermittently and said auxiliary rollscontinuously, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination with the strip-forming mechanism for thelongitudinal and transverse strips, as described, of a pair of continuously-rotating feeding-rolls for said crossstrips, one of said rollshaving a longitudinal groove, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

14:- The combination with the strip-forming mechanism for thelongitudinal and transverse strips, of the reciprocating cross-headadapted to punch and shear the cross-strips, of a continuous web, ayielding plate located above and in close proximity to the shearingknifefor said strips, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. The combination with the intermittently-rotating main feeding-rollsand the continuously-revolving auxiliary feeding-rolls for thecross'strips, of a reciprocating head carrying punching devices and amovable shearing-blade, a stationary knife or blade below said punchingdevices, and a yielding plate adjacent to said stationary knife adaptedto normally stand in line with the respective pairs of feeding-rolls,said plate being adapted to yield along said knife when the strip isbeing severed and to be moved forwardly in its guiding position as soonas the knife recedes to its normal position, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

16. The combination with the punching and cutting mechanism for thecross-strips and the auxiliary feeding-rolls for the same, of areciprocating plate below-said rolls and means for moving said plateforward after the crossstrips have passed through said auxiliary rolls,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. The combination with the continuouslyrotating auxiliaryfeeding-rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a longitudinalgroove, of the movable plate arranged below said feeding-rolls, andmeans for moving said plate backward after the cross-strip has been fedthrough said auxiliary feeding-rolls, substantially as specified.

18. The combination with the reciprocating cross-head carrying thepunching and shearing devices for the transverse strips,ofa transverseshaft having outwardly-extendin g arms and a beater-plate at theextremities of said arms, a projecting arm on said shaft, a springconnected to said arm, and a contacting lug or projection on saidreciprocating head whereby said beater is forced downwardly and held ina downward positionduring the forward movement of said cross-head,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

19. The combination with the reciprocating cross-head carrying thepunching and cutting devices for the cross-strips, the sprin g-pressedplate arranged adjacent to said cutting devices, the auxiliaryfeeding-rolls below the cutting devices, the transverse bar or platebelow said feeding-rolls, a beaterplate in front of said auxiliaryfeeding-rolls, and a projection on said reciprocating cross-head adaptedby one movement of the cross-head to operate the beating device and bythe return movement to operate said transverse bar to insure thedischarge of said cross-strips and forcing them firmly into position,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of July,A. D. 1902.

WILLIAM B. SI-IEPERD.

WVitnesses:

v CHAS. I. WELCH,

MORRIS ARBOGAST.

ICC

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